Shahin Sean Solimon Talks w/411 About Making Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage, More

Shahin Sean Solimon is an actor, writer, producer, and director who has made two movies so far, Djinn and Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage, with a third major movie in the planning stages. He was nice enough to take time out of his very busy schedule to discuss Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage, his movie influences, his latest project, and more.

Bryan Kristopowitz: Why make a Sinbad movie?

Shahin Sean Solimon: I have a strong liking for old school fantasy movies, and Sinbad is one of the original live action monster/fantasy movies. I’m a big fan. Plus, I am of Persian-American heritage, and Sinbad is a Persian story. It was a natural fit. Also, I had just made an experimental fantasy film titled Djinn, so I was primed for it.

BK: Is Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage meant to be a standalone movie or is it meant to be the first in a series?

SSS: It is definitely meant to be a series. However, I have several other projects in the works, and will re-visit the franchise in the foreseeable future.

BK:How did you achieve the overall look of Fifth Voyage? It’s one of the most colorful movies I’ve seen in quite some time.

SSS: Thanks, we purposely colored it as such, both during production, and during post. I think the “dark” look for fantasy movies is very negative, and getting played out. It takes guts to go bright colors. Plus all the classics had this amazing “technicolor” look that I love.

BK: Why go with stop-motion animation as opposed to CGI for the monsters?

SSS: To keep the authenticity of the original for starters, plus I love stop-motion. I think it’s a great system, and it has come a long way. The team that worked on Sinbad, did some amazing stuff. I was super happy with the results, and we will be going further with it in the next round. 🙂

BK: How long did it take to make the film?

SSS: Well, the film was written, and re-written for about a year. Shooting was about 3 months total, and post was about 2 years, due to the 1400 VFX shots and animation for this film. So about 3.5 years total, which is actually good for this style of movie, on an indie budget.

BK: Did you always plan to star as Sinbad in Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage as well as direct?

SSS: Yes after it was insisted by others, however I insisted on a screen-test, and a public test with our first trailer before I would commit to act, because I wanted to make sure it was a good fit. It’s just my style of doing things.

BK: What was the hardest part of the movie to make, the live action parts or the animation parts?

SSS: Both had their challenges. In live-action you are dealing with 200 people, all needing something and all at the same time, and physically very demanding. Animation is a very slow process, frame by frame, carefully constructing a shot, and then the next.

BK: How did you get Patrick Stewart to do the narration?

SSS: We asked, he said yes. May I add that he was lovely to work with, and one of the best experiences of my life professionally. Looking forward to working with him again.

BK: Did Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage receive any sort of theatrical release, and if it did how did that come about? I ask because it’s rare to see independent movies get any sort of theatrical release.

SSS: Yes, it was picked up by AMC and Regal. It was on about 50 screens, in 14 states I believe. However, we did not have P&A funding, so it only ran for a week.

BK: How do you plan on remaking Plan 9 From Outer Space? Are you worried about any sort of backlash from fans of the original movie?

SSS: Well, first and foremost, I am a very sincere and hardworking filmmaker, and am highly experienced from the 30,000 hours of work I have put in (give or take). I am also one of those fans! Making this movie from the passion that I have for it. It’s been on my mind for a few years now. Since I saw Tim Burton’s Ed Wood. You really can’t make everyone happy, and quite frankly I don’t really want to. I have learned that just trying to “please” people violates the integrity of a filmmaker. That’s not what we are doing here, and I don’t think that’s what people like to see, and I am not here to kiss anyone’s ass, fans or otherwise. Stories are made to be handed down, and movies are stories. If anyone has a problem with that, they can choose not to watch my films. Lots of stories are remade and extended. It will also perhaps shine some light on an artist from yesteryear, and show my interpretation of his work. I would take that as a compliment since it’s no easy task. I’m hoping to make this movie from my point of view in a Universe that would be on the same grid. That’s all I can say at this point. 🙂

BK: What’s your personal favorite movie? What movie inspires you the most as an artist?

SSS: That’s a tough one. I have many favorites, in many genres. If I had to pick just one movie, my all-time favorite would have to be The Godfather part II. It has everything a fan can ask for.

The movie that inspires me the most would have to be none other than Tim Burton’s Ed Wood. Besides the fact that it’s a great movie, it’s a great introspection into the lives of the “not” so well-to-do industry people in that era, and perhaps any era. They were struggling and managed to still make movies. I can relate to that, so can many others. That’s inspiring, and part of the reason why I am making this version. I honestly hope that it will be a nice addition to the people that are fans along with myself, and it will be dedicated to Ed himself.

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A very special thanks to Shahin Sean Solimon for participating in this interview and to david j. moore for helping set it up.